North Otago registered its first win in Ashburton against Mid Canterbury since 2006 when the fourth-ranked team beat the top qualifier, 36-24, in a Lochore Cup semifinal at the Ashburton Showgrounds on Saturday.
The margin was wider than the final score would indicate.
Mid Canterbury scored two converted tries in the last 10 minutes after North Otago was reduced to 14 players when experienced midfielder Lemi Masoe was yellow-carded.
Mid Canterbury made the ideal start when first five eighth Jared Percival got a fortuitous bounce inside the North Otago 22 to score and convert to give the home side an 8-0 lead after two minutes.
But that was to be the only scoring for Mid Canterbury for the next 71 minutes, as North Otago’s resolute and aggressive defence effectively shut Mid Canterbury out of the game.
North Otago co coach, Barry Stevens was effusive after the game.
"I’m just exceptionally proud of the guys and the way they played. Early on in the week we talked about the mental side of the game and today the guys turned and showed real urgency on attack. The defence was great. Our line speed was such that they couldn’t handle it and they sort of started to panic and we turned a lot of their ball over. And when we got opportunities this week, we took them and scored points."
North Otago levelled the score in the fifth minute when a Mid Canterbury throw into a defensive lineout 8m from its line sailed over the lineout to be scooped up by Masoe who touched down beside the posts for fullback Craig Smith to convert.
North Otago’s accurate defence put the opposition under pressure and in the 17th minute it took a lead it was not to relinquish.
Front rower Ralph Darling made the initial inroads into the defence.
Lock Jared Whitburn, whose workrate was impressive, drove on and flanker Maene Mapusaga was on hand to score.
Twelve minutes from halftime, a well-placed kick by halfback Robbie Smith, who had an outstanding game, put North Otago back on attack and when the ball spilled loose on the opposition line, left winger Matthew Vocea was on hand to touch down and give North Otago a 20-8 halftime lead.
At halftime Stevens stated that defence was the key.
"Defence is nine-tenths ticker and attitude and that’s what we brought today. The guys really enjoyed it out there and they just grew on the back of each others’ workrate."
Ten minutes into the second half came the try of the game from North Otago halfback Smith.
From a scrum, North Otago heaved Mid Canterbury off the ball and Smith broke on the blindside, shrugged off two tacklers and raced 30m to score.
Brother Craig converted to take North Otago out to a 28-8 lead.
Twenty minutes later, Mapusaga exploded through the Mid Canterbury defence and race 35m to take his side out to a 34-8 lead.
Ten minutes from fulltime, replacement five-eighth Tyron Davies kicked a 50m penalty to put the game beyond the reach of Mid Canterbury which, in the last seven minutes, produced tries to openside flanker Jordan Stewart, certainly the pick of the Mid Canterbury pack, along with captain Eric Duff, and replacement hooker Brendon Ridgen.
Percival converted to both give the Mid Canterbury effort some respectability.
North Otago will travel to King Country for the Lochore Cup final next weekend after King Country scored seven tries in its 48-26 win over Poverty Bay to set up a repeat of the 2015 Lochore Cup final between the two sides, which drew 4-4 in the qualifying rounds.
In the Meads Cup semifinals, Buller upset South Canterbury 16-6, in Timaru, while unbeaten Wanganui handed out a 58-26 hiding to Wairarapa-Bush.
- Terry O'Neill
Lochore Cup semifinal
The scores
North Otago 36
Lemi Masoe, Maene Mapusaga (2), Matthew Vocea, Robbie Smith tries; Craig Smith 2 con; Tyron Davies pen
Mid Canterbury 24
Jared Percival, Jordan Stewart, Brendon Ridgen tries; Percival 3 con
Halftime: 20-8